Video has surfaced online of a 15-year-old Hawkins, decked out in a dress white shirt, black bowtie and Anthony Michael Hall circa Weird Science haircut, rocking the drumkit on a cover of Van Halen's "Panama" as part of a High School Battle of the Bands competition in Laguna Beach, Calif.

The video was shot in 1987, just three years after Eddie, Alex, Michael and Diamond Dave dropped the future classic on listeners. As for the rest of the band, you can debate their talents, but there's little denying that Hawkins was a monster drummer in the making, even as a high school freshman.

For a little perspective, keep in mind that this video was shot just shy of a decade prior to his joining Foo Fighters. Hawkins was a freshman in high school just a year after a 17-year-old Dave Grohl auditioned for and joined Washington, D.C. band Scream. And yes, within a few years of this performance, Hawkins would find himself behind the kit for major label recording acts like Sass Jordan and Alanis Morissette.

Everyone has to start somewhere, but from watching this video you can see that Hawkins was already on his career path dating back to high school.